Kentucky Volleyball’s 2025 Schedule Is Here — and It’s a Gauntlet of Champions
The bar is set, the spotlight is on, and the battle-tested Wildcats are ready to run it back.
Kentucky Volleyball has officially released its 2025 schedule, and it reads more like a Final Four bracket than a preseason calendar. With matchups against every single team from last year’s Final Four, the Wildcats are not shying away from a challenge—they’re charging straight into it.
Before the first serve of conference play, Kentucky will stare down Nebraska, Penn State, Louisville, and Pittsburgh—a non-conference run that’s as grueling as it is historic.
Kicking Off at Home — and Then Into the Fire
The season warms up with a home exhibition against Ohio State on August 23. Free and open to the public, it’s the calm before the storm. One week later, the storm hits.
Kentucky opens its regular season on the road against Lipscomb (Aug. 30) before headlining the nationally-televised Broadway Block Party against Nebraska on August 31 at Bridgestone Arena. A clash worthy of March, not August, the Huskers are now led by former Louisville head coach Dani Busboom Kelly, adding even more fuel to an already electric rivalry.
One Month. Four Final Four Opponents.
The Wildcats will then head to State College to face 2024 national champions Penn State (Sept. 5), followed by New Hampshire. Week three brings a trip to Ft. Worth for the Shriners Children’s Showdown, where UK squares off with Pitt (Sept. 10), the third of their Final Four foes.
Next up? A home stand featuring SMU and Houston (Sept. 13–14), followed by a red-hot Bluegrass battle on September 18 at the KFC Yum! Center against archrival Louisville. That marks four Final Four opponents in as many weeks.
They cap non-conference action by hosting Washington on September 20.
The SEC Gauntlet & a Tournament Return
The 2025 SEC format shifts to a single round robin, with each team playing 15 games. With Vanderbilt now in the mix, Kentucky will face a tightly packed conference race before heading into the first SEC Tournament since 2005, set for Savannah, Georgia from November 21–25.
The Wildcats’ in-conference campaign begins on September 24 against South Carolina, followed by key matchups versus Florida (Oct. 19), Tennessee (Nov. 9), and a late test at Texas (Nov. 2).
A Roster Built for the Moment
Coach Craig Skinner returns several core pieces from last year’s Elite Eight team, including reigning SEC Player of the Year Brooklyn Deleye, standout libero Molly Tuozzo, and middle blocker Brooke Bultema.
The offseason saw a trio of key transfer additions:
Eva Hudson, Big Ten’s kill leader from Purdue
Lizzie Carr, a dominant middle blocker and sister of former Kentucky basketball player Andrew Carr
Molly Berezowitz, defensive specialist from Marquette
Three talented freshmen and two new coaches round out a squad that’s deep, experienced, and hungry for more.
What’s at Stake
Nine straight SEC titles is impressive. But in 2025, Kentucky isn’t just chasing a conference crown—they’re proving they can run with the best in the nation from day one. With a schedule like this, the Wildcats don’t need to find the fire.
They are the fire.
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